Anhe Hall.

This is the name of Gu Hong's pill shop. In the entire Tier Two area, her shop is considered quite grand, with a few apprentices busy inside.

Over the years, with Li An's assistance, Gu Hong has developed quite well. More than half of the pills in the Treasure Pavilion are supplied by her.

"What kind of pills does the esteemed guest need?"

Li An walked into the pill shop. A bright and charming young girl approached, her eyes lively and full of spirit. She took one look at Li An, and her eyes became even more enthusiastic.

She could tell from Li An's attire that he was someone of importance.

"I'm looking for Alchemist Gu."

Li An spoke calmly.

The girl said: "May I know what urgent matter the esteemed guest has, so that I may report to my master?"

"Just tell them that Zuo Wen from Treasure Pavilion has come to visit." Li An said lightly.

Upon hearing this, the girl was shocked. It turned out to be the Chief Artifact Evaluator of the Treasure Pavilion?

This was indeed someone not to be offended. She bowed and then hurried inside.

Soon, a woman walked out quickly—it was Gu Hong.

After years apart, she still carried her charm, but her eyes showed a hint of the vicissitudes and maturity brought by the passage of time.

"Gu Hong pays respects to Chief Zuo—"

Gu Hong's face was full of apology. "My apprentice failed to recognize a true deity with her eyes and let Chief Zuo wait for so long. This is truly a fault. I beg for your pardon—please, come."

Inner hall.

Gu Hong's lively apprentice Xu Xiaoxiao served tea to Li An with an apologetic look, then retreated.

"I came this time with a request..."

Li An sipped the tea, put down the cup, and spoke bluntly.

"Chief Zuo, just say it directly. As long as it's within Gu Hong's power, she will go through fire and water without hesitation—"

"I'm over two hundred years old, left without hope of Core Formation, so I just wish to find a companion to spend my remaining days with..."

Li An smiled slightly, "In this city, after thinking it over, only Gu Daoyou could be a suitable match."

"Therefore, I came today to propose marriage—"

To propose marriage!

Clearly, this was the hardest topic to broach between a man and a woman, but when Li An spoke, it was as if discussing an ordinary business deal, with calmness.

Gu Hong, however, was taken aback.

She stared at Li An for a long time, and complex emotions surfaced in her beautiful eyes.

"Why did Chief Zuo, with such noble status, take a fancy solely to Gu Hong?"

After a long while, Gu Hong spoke, "In Chief Zuo's illustrious status, there are countless young Foundation Establishment female cultivators in this city who wish to form a bond with you, and Gu Hong is already over two hundred years old..."

Her words were faint.

"First, Alchemist Gu is a strong figure in the Alchemy Dao, and marrying me, we would be strong allies. Second, you've cooperated with the Treasure Pavilion for many years, and I'm more confident in your character..."

Li An was very straightforward.

"Is that all?"

She gazed at Li An deeply.

Li An nodded calmly.

Love? Feelings? Those ephemeral things are just the idle fantasies of mortals with limited lifespans.

In this brutal Cultivation Realm, everything is a calculation.

Marriage is merely a union of interests.

So, stating it clearly, they both could accept it and wouldn't feel exposed.

"All these years, you've stayed in Celestial Yang City and White Tiger City, seen numerous women, and still find Gu Hong most suitable?"

She softly added.

Li An still nodded.

"What if Gu Hong refuses, what would the consequences be?"

"Henceforth, the pill supply to Treasure Pavilion will be replaced..."

Li An did not hide his threat: "I am not a magnanimous person!"

"So Gu Hong has no choice but to marry?"

Gu Hong asked, listening to Li An's words, there seemed to be tears in her eyes.

"Yes."

Li An said calmly: "Alchemist Gu is a smart person, so I think...you can start preparing the wedding dress."

Tears couldn't help but spill from Gu Hong's eyes. She turned her back, wiped her tears, and said:

"Gu Hong agrees."

"Xiaoxiao, see the guest out—"

Outside, Xu Xiaoxiao came in, and Li An got up to leave.

After he left.

Xu Xiaoxiao ran back in small steps and asked her master with concern:

"Master, why are you crying... What happened, was it that old fellow Zuo Wen bullying you?"

She picked up a handkerchief and handed it to Gu Hong.

Gu Hong took the handkerchief, wiped her tears, yet laughed while crying, saying:

"Yes, he bullied me... he bullied me!"

Xu Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and said: "Master, let's leave, leave Celestial Yang City, and not endure his abuse! So what if it's the Treasure Pavilion? What's so great about it! Xiaoxiao will study alchemy hard and can take care of you in the future…"

The girl's stubborn earnestness was so adorable.

Gu Hong, however, smiled through her tears, and said:

"No, I insist on enduring his abuse... I insist!"

"Go prepare a wedding dress for me... get the best tailor in the city!"

Xu Xiaoxiao's jaw dropped, "Ah???"

...

In the following days, Li An was quite busy.

On one hand, he continued negotiations with the elder who held the Primordial Spirit Pill, Zhou Xuan.

The other party had many harsh demands, and after much tug of war, Li An finally reached an agreement with him.

The elder no longer insisted on auctioning and agreed to give the pill to Li An, but the price was steep—180,000 Spirit Stones, plus a set of Third Grade artifact refining materials.

Li An agreed and began raising money.

Over the years, he had amassed quite a few Spirit Stones, but a large portion was used for cultivation, buying talisman paper, etc., leaving him with only seventy to eighty thousand Spirit Stones.

But he wasn't too worried, because he knew well that this pill was deliberately handed to him by the Demon Sect and there would be no problem.

In a sense, he was merely cooperating in a play with the Demon Sect; he didn't actually need the Primordial Spirit Pill.

On the other hand, he was sorting through the matchmakers' recommended lists.

For these women, he had two "do-nots":

One, virgins were not wanted.

Two, those who were kind-hearted and of upright character were not wanted.

He wanted those who were promiscuous, bad, malicious, vile!

Such female cultivators were most suitable for use as tools, bearing no guilt.

He selected seven individuals and after handing the list to the matchmakers, they were both shocked and delighted, repeatedly praising Li An's discerning tastes.

Those lowlifes had been unwanted in their hands, and now that Li An had accepted them all, how could they not be happy?

...

Half a month later.

The Chief of Treasure Pavilion Zuo Wen's grand wedding.

The city was abuzz with excitement.

The Pavilion Master Su Xiuwan along with the high-level members attended in person.

The Prince Mansion also sent a representative, showing their regard.

All major and minor forces in the city presented gifts.

The wedding was held with great pomp and ceremony.

Gu Hong, dressed in a bright red gown, under the witness of the public, married Li An.

When she looked up, the flickering candlelight in her eyes revealed glistening tears, and for a moment Li An couldn't understand whether they were tears of sorrow, humiliation, or something else...

Bridal chamber.

A golden hook lifted the red bridal veil.

Today's Gu Hong was so enchanting, donned in red makeup, her red lips captivating, and her eyes like flowing water.

Li An extinguished the candle.

...

"It seems Li An couldn't wait... Hehe, after obtaining the Primordial Spirit Pill, he has started to accelerate his cultivation pace..."

In a secret chamber somewhere, the Life-taking Horse-Faced revealed a slight smile.

In his view, Li An's behavior was normal.

The Primordial Spirit Pill was a stimulus for Li An.

Therefore, naturally, Li An took concubines and married to cultivate the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill, rapidly enhancing his strength in preparation for Core Formation.

"It's better if he speeds up..."

Even the blood-shadow woman before him spoke indifferently:

"It would be best if he could break the realm with King Jingbei together, so both tasks could be accomplished together..."

She did not doubt him, either.

...

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